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Kan’u was a military hero in third-century AD China. He spent his life fighting battles in order to establish his compatriot Ryūbi as rightful ruler in the Shu Province after the fall of the Han dynasty in AD 220. Kan’u lived to see Ryūbi become the Emperor Xuande, but was later executed by an opposing faction.

Kan’u was deified as the god of war, not only for his military deeds but also for his unswerving loyalty. He was then incorporated into the Daoist pantheon.
Kan’u is also depicted on the netsuke EA2001.45.

Details

Artist/maker

Matsushima Fusajirō (active mid-19th century) (block cutter)

Fujiwara Yoshitaka (AD 954 - 974) (author)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861) (designer)
Associated people

Ibaya Senzaburō (active c. 1820s - c. 1870s) (publisher)

Guan Yu (died AD 219) (subject)

Muramatsu Genroku (active c. 1843 - c. 1852) (censor)
Object type

print
No. of items

1
Museum location

not on display
Museum department

Eastern Art
Accession no.

EA1971.113